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Table of Contents
Overview
The antioxidant properties of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and its position in collagen synthesis make vitamin C a significant molecule for pores and skin well being. Dietary and topical ascorbic acid have useful results on pores and skin cells, and a few research have proven that vitamin C could assist forestall and deal with ultraviolet (UV)-induced photodamage. Nevertheless, the consequences of vitamin C within the pores and skin usually are not effectively understood as a consequence of restricted analysis. This text discusses the potential roles of vitamin C within the pores and skin and summarizes the present information about vitamin C in pores and skin well being.
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Content material and availability
Vitamin C is a traditional pores and skin constituent that’s discovered at excessive ranges in each the dermis and dermis (1, 2). The vitamin C content material of the dermis is increased than the dermis, though the vitamin C concentrations in each layers are roughly equal to that of different water-soluble antioxidants, together with uric acid and glutathione (2-4). Ageing, nonetheless, causes a decline in vitamin C content material in each the dermis and dermis (2). Extreme exposures to UV gentle or pollution (e.g., cigarette smoke and ozone) may decrease vitamin C content material, primarily within the dermis (4-6).
Vitamin C within the pores and skin is often transported from the bloodstream. Transport proteins particular for ascorbic acid are discovered on cells in all layers of the pores and skin (7). Keratinocytes have a excessive capability for vitamin C transport, presumably to compensate for restricted vascularization of the dermis (7, 8). Oral supplementation with vitamin C successfully will increase vitamin C ranges within the pores and skin (9, 10). Nevertheless, when plasma vitamin C ranges are saturated, pores and skin vitamin C concentrations now not improve. Optimum pores and skin concentrations of the vitamin usually are not but identified.
Topical utility
Vitamin C will be offered to the pores and skin via topical utility. The stratum corneum is the first impediment to environment friendly vitamin C absorption from exterior sources (11); removing of the stratum corneum by laser, chemical, or mechanical strategies enhances absorption (12). Though comparable research are nonetheless required for people, research in laboratory animals present that percutaneous vitamin C absorption enormously is dependent upon pH. Preparations with a pH beneath 4.0 support in transport by selling the uncharged type of vitamin C, ascorbic acid (11). Though concentrations of vitamin C as much as 30% have been used for animal research, maximal absorption was achieved with a 20% vitamin C answer, with increased concentrations displaying decrease absorption (11). Topical utility of ascorbic acid will cross the dermis into the underlying dermal layers.
The soundness of vitamin C in topical options is a priority, as exposures to air, warmth, and/or gentle could slowly degrade vitamin C. Though the pure type of vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is the best for topical administration (11), it’s the least secure in answer. Nevertheless, secure artificial derivatives, equivalent to ascorbate phosphate, are thought of to have restricted permeability (11) and performance in pores and skin (13, 14). One other secure lipid-soluble spinoff, ascorbyl palmitate, additionally has restricted absorption (11), and one in vitro research with cultured pores and skin cells discovered that the administration of ascorbyl palmitate had some poisonous results (15). But, the steadiness of topical vitamin C options could also be elevated by the addition of different antioxidant compounds (16-19).
Human research with topics utilizing topically utilized options of 0.6%-10.0% vitamin C or its artificial derivatives haven’t reported opposed results (14, 19-27).
Deficiency
Signs of vitamin C deficiency (knowns as scurvy) seem as soon as plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid drop beneath 10 micromolar (μM), a stage that may be prevented by consuming as little as 10 mg of ascorbic acid every day (28). Cutaneous manifestations of scurvy outcome from declines in collagen synthesis, resulting in disruption of connective tissue and fragility of blood vessels. Early signs within the pores and skin embody a thickening of the stratum corneum and spots of small subcutaneous bleeding (29, 30). As scurvy progresses, wound therapeutic is impaired as a result of lack of mature collagen, which permits wounds to stay open (31, 32). Pores and skin lesions brought on by vitamin C deficiency are remediated by an sufficient consumption of vitamin C.
Features in Wholesome Pores and skin
Photoprotection
Vitamin C limits the injury induced by ultraviolet (UV) gentle publicity. Vitamin C shouldn’t be a “sunscreen” as a result of it doesn’t take up gentle within the UVA or UVB spectrum. Moderately, the antioxidant exercise of vitamin C protects in opposition to UV-induced injury brought on by free radicals (33). Vitamin C transport proteins are elevated in keratinocytes in response to UV gentle, suggesting an elevated want for vitamin C uptake for sufficient safety (7, 8).
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UV gentle decreases vitamin C content material of pores and skin, an impact that’s depending on the depth and length of UV publicity (4, 6, 34). In cultured keratinocytes, the addition of vitamin C reduces UV-related DNA injury and lipid peroxidation, limits the discharge of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and protects in opposition to apoptosis (35, 36). Vitamin C additionally modulates redox-sensitive cell signaling in cultured pores and skin cells and consequently will increase cell survival following UV publicity (37, 38).
In two rodent research, addition of ascorbic acid to the weight-reduction plan lowered the dimensions and variety of dermal neoplasms and pores and skin tumors induced by continual UV publicity (39, 40). Thus far, no different research with UV publicity and oral ascorbic acid supplementation in animal fashions have been printed.
In two human research, oral vitamin C supplementation alone didn’t considerably improve Minimal Erythemal Dose (MED), a measure of photoprotection from UV gentle in pores and skin (9, 10). General, restricted knowledge recommend that vitamin C consumption alone supplies inadequate antioxidant safety in opposition to UV irradiation. Nevertheless, a number of research have discovered that oral supplementation with a mix of vitamin C and vitamin E successfully will increase MED and reduces erythema-induced blood move to broken areas of pores and skin (41, 42). Thus, interactions between the 2 antioxidant nutritional vitamins could also be obligatory to realize UV safety by dietary means.
Topical utility of vitamin C, alone or together with different compounds, could end in larger photoprotection than oral supplementation due to the extra direct route of administration. In a single mouse research, topical utility of ascorbic acid delayed the consequences of continual high-dose UVB publicity on the pores and skin, together with a discount in pores and skin wrinkling and the event of pores and skin tumors (13). In pig fashions, topical utility of vitamin C lowered the variety of sunburned cells, decreased erythema response, and lowered DNA injury induced by UVA publicity (18, 33). Topically utilized combos of vitamin C and vitamin E are simpler in stopping photodamage than both vitamin alone. Particularly, this mix of antioxidant nutritional vitamins decreased the immunosuppressive results of UV publicity (43), elevated MED, and decreased cell injury (16, 18, 44).
Restricted human research can be found on photoprotection by topical utility of vitamin C. Though topical ascorbic acid reduces radicals in UV-exposed human pores and skin (45), just one research examined its impact on UV-induced erythemal response; this research reported no vital advantage of topical vitamin C (24). Like animal analysis, human research utilizing combos of vitamin C and vitamin E have documented UV protecting results (17, 19, 24).
Photodamage/Wrinkling
The buildup of oxidative injury to proteins is a distinguishing characteristic of each photodamage (photoaging) and intrinsic getting older; such oxidative injury can result in modifications in pores and skin construction. Along with its antioxidant features, vitamin C regulates the synthesis of the structural protein collagen. The position of vitamin C within the hydroxylation of collagen molecules is effectively characterised (46). Hydroxylation of collagen is critical for its extracellular stability and help of the dermis.
In cell tradition fashions, vitamin C supplementation has many useful results in combating photodamage. Particularly, vitamin C has been proven to stabilize collagen mRNA, thus rising collagen protein synthesis for restore of the broken pores and skin (47). This happens concurrently with a lower in elastin manufacturing; the elastin protein is commonly overproduced in response to photodamage (48). Vitamin C additionally will increase the proliferation price of fibroblasts, a capability that’s decreased with age (49). Additional, vitamin C stimulates DNA restore in cultured fibroblasts (50).
Human research typically assess pores and skin well being by modifications in depth or variety of wrinkles and by the person’s notion of pores and skin well being. Two observational research discovered that increased intakes of vitamin C from the weight-reduction plan have been related to higher pores and skin look, with notable decreases in pores and skin wrinkling (51, 52). Using vitamin C (3-10%) in topical functions for no less than 12 weeks has been proven to lower wrinkling (21, 23, 25, 27), cut back protein fiber injury (25), lower obvious roughness of pores and skin (21), and improve manufacturing of collagen (26, 27). Topical vitamin C has additionally been proven to reverse a number of the age-related structural modifications within the interface between the dermis and the dermis (22). Nevertheless, the consequences of topical vitamin C usually are not obvious in all people, and apparently, one research discovered that people with excessive dietary intakes of vitamin C confirmed no or little impact of a topical administration (26).
Wound therapeutic
One of many distinctive options of scurvy is poor wound therapeutic (31). Vitamin C ranges lower quickly at a wound web site (53, 54). Though inflammatory responses typically improve free radicals on the web site of harm and the presence of vitamin C could restrict free radical injury, free radicals could play a posh position within the therapeutic response that isn’t but understood (54, 55). Nevertheless, the elevated demand for dermal collagen synthesis could improve utilization of vitamin C. Vitamin C could have extra roles in wound therapeutic, for instance, by selling keratinocyte differentiation (50, 56), stimulating the formation of the epidermal barrier (57), and re-establishing the stratum corneum (58).
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Research on the impact of vitamin C supplementation on wound therapeutic have reported considerably combined outcomes. Information from laboratory animals and people present that vitamin C deficiency ends in poor wound therapeutic, and vitamin C supplementation in poor people reveals vital advantages (31, 59-61). Though vitamin C ranges seem to extend collagen synthesis and reduce inflammatory responses on the web site of the wound, neither vitamin C supplementation (62-64) or elevated plasma vitamin C standing (55) will increase wound closure time in in any other case wholesome people. This means that vitamin C could solely have an effect on particular aspects of the wound therapeutic response. Topical ascorbic acid has not been correctly evaluated previous to or throughout wound therapeutic in people.
Vitamin C is included in oral therapies for stress ulcers (mattress sores) and burns, together with vitamin E, zinc, and different nutritive components (65-67).
Dry pores and skin
Larger intakes of dietary vitamin C have been correlated with a decreased danger of dry pores and skin (51), suggesting that ascorbic acid could affect trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). In cell tradition fashions, addition of vitamin C promotes the synthesis of barrier lipids, which might set up a functioning stratum corneum with low water permeability (58, 68). One research utilizing topical vitamin C in human topics correlated its use with decreased pores and skin roughness (21). Nevertheless, one other research steered vitamin C elevated TEWL when utilized to the pores and skin (14). Thus, the consequences of vitamin C on pores and skin dryness usually are not clear.
Different features
Environmental pollution, equivalent to ozone, can lower vitamin C ranges within the pores and skin and result in free radical injury (5). Smoking additionally results in elevated wrinkling and decreased collagen synthesis, which corresponds to a decline in plasma vitamin C ranges (55); nonetheless, it’s unclear if this correlates to decrease vitamin C ranges in pores and skin. Topical ascorbic acid has not been evaluated in opposition to pollution-related injury.
Topical vitamin C could also be helpful in opposition to zits to scale back inflammatory lesions. Nevertheless, research have primarily centered on the usage of sodium ascorbyl phosphate, an artificial spinoff that could be poorly absorbed by the pores and skin (20, 69). Topical vitamin C may have delicate pores and skin lightening results which might be brought on by reductions in melanin manufacturing and melanin oxidation (70).
Conclusion
Vitamin C is a necessary a part of pores and skin well being each as a small molecular weight antioxidant and as a important issue for collagen synthesis. Vitamin C contributes to photoprotection, decreases photodamage, and is required for sufficient wound therapeutic. Oral supplementation with vitamin C could assist forestall UV-induced injury, particularly together with supplemental vitamin E. Dietary vitamin C may present photoprotection, however the extent of the protecting results would require extra analysis. Topical utility of vitamin C seems to be an efficient route for delivering ascorbic acid to the pores and skin as a result of ascorbic acid seems to be taken up readily at an acidic pH. Regardless of inconsistencies in vitamin C preparations and research design, the information recommend that vitamin C is best in defending in opposition to injury induced by UV gentle and in addition has utility within the remedy of photodamage and/or pores and skin wrinkling. Though vitamin C seems to profit dry pores and skin and should help wound therapeutic, additional analysis is required to find out the impact of vitamin C on each. Lastly, the best results of vitamin C supplementation are seen when it’s mixed with different micronutrients, equivalent to vitamin E and zinc.
Authors and Reviewers
Written in September 2011 by: Alexander J. Michels, Ph.D. Linus Pauling Institute Oregon State College
Reviewed in September 2011 by: Zoe Diana Draelos, M.D. Consulting Professor Division of Dermatology Duke College Faculty of Drugs Durham, NC
This text was underwritten, partially, by a grant from Neutrogena Company, Los Angeles, California.
Copyright 2011-2022 Linus Pauling Institute
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